Gear-shifting mechanism.



G. R. UNDERHILL. GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2a, 1913.

1, 1 1 5,877. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

G. R. UNDERHILL. GEAR SHIPTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED E0126, 1913. 1, 1 1 5,877. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, CHM

CHARLES R.,UNDERHILL, OF NEW HAVEIL'GONNECTICUT.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. UNDER- inLL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and. State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gear-Shifting Mechanism, of;

which the following is a specification.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 26., 1913i Serial No. 803,113.

I l l z i GEAR-SHIFTING MECHANISM.

Patented N0v.'3,-1 Q14.

siderable saving of energy in shifting a part or parts to change from one speed to another. In that application the power de-. vice used is quick-acting, is one in which the energyexpended is employed to move the load, and "no 'energyi-is'e'xpended while the gearsto be brought into mesh are in contact but not in mesh, and in which none is This invention relates to gear-shifting mechanism, and especially to an apparatus of this type for use on motor-cars, motortrucks, etc., and the principal-object of the invention is to provide a typeiof mechanism operable with a minimum expenditure of power for use wherever the shifting of gears to change speed is required.

In gear-shifting mechanism as generally employed on motor vehicles it is customary to bring about the necessar r shifting movements of the. gears in' changing from one speed to another by the expenditure of electrical energy or energy in a different form operating in an equivalent manner. In such mechanisms as heretofore used there has the necessary gear-shiftingmovements. In

been a great waste ofenergy in performing electrical gear-shifting mechanism as here- -tofore constructed these losses are due to several conditions. One of these is that when an electric circuitfor energizing a gear-shifting solenoid or other electricaldevice. is closed time is .requiredfor thejcurrent to build up and additional time is required to get in 'mot' n thcmass ,to be g In said application I have also disclosed a relatively short power circuit including a moved. I After this a ditional time, and frequently a very great amount of time, ela-psesbefore thegears to be connected go into mesh with each other, owing to the different speeds at which these gears are moving. All of these conditions, when 'the circuit is closed and current on, result in the waste of electrical energy and consequent early exhaustion of the battery or other source of energy. -A similar Waste occurs when pneumatic, hydraulic, or other equivalent form of 'energy'is similarly employed for performing the geanshifting operations.

in a companion applicationfiled by me November 19. 1913, Serial No. 801,789 I have disclosed in a gear-shifting mechanism .as a substitute for an electric,'pneumatic,

hydraulic. "n1- other equivalent power de vice for performing the actual work ofshiftmg parts to change from one speed to another. an-operating power device of such a character that it's use results in a very con i i i i wasted in the building up oi -an electric current 'or any equivalent thereof. -A spring of-proper type fulfils these requirements and is illustrated in said companibn application as the preferred means employed for performing the work of effecting the necessary gear-shifting movements without Waste of the energy of such operating power de- 'vice. This spring of my companion appli=..

cation exerts its maximum effort at the be= ginning of the gear-shifting operation at wh ch time a considerableamount of energy and time is required to start the movement of the mass t'dbe shifted, and after that thepower of the spring gradually diminishes. Its action is substantially the reverse of that of 3 an electrically-operated device which when energized. exerts its minimum cifort at the start and has its power rapidly increased.

thereafter as the'current builds up and the electrical device is more and more strongly energized. The apparatus of the present invention is similar to that of myaforesaid companion (application in that operating power devices of the type just describedare employed in the present case as in the other.

suitable electrical devicefor energizing the operating power'device or spring just referred to, and in addition to this power circuit there is also a controlling ci'rcuitmade of relatively fine, wire and requiring but a small amount of energy for bringing about the desired controlling"action. Each I of these circuits requires to be closed but a relatively short period of time for energizing the operating power device or permitting its release, as the case may be; and in these respects also the apparatus of the present-an 'plicatmn is similar to that aforesaid. In

various other respects also, such as the ii 1'-' tor-relation of, the power-and COIItIOlhDg circuits so that each will. normally have an automatically controlled break, the control of these gaps by the: automatic action of the electrical device energized by the powercii" cuit, etc., the apparatus of thepresent appli cation "is similar to that of my aforesaid power devices are in turn I energized by 1 or under the control of a single power rcircuit and controlling circuit respectively,

the construction being such that a single energizing and controlling unit governs the selection of .each desired gear-shifting movement, and also effects that movement.

' The apparatus of the present application is distinguished from that of my companion application chiefly in that different gearshifting movements are controlled and 201b1011gl1t about by different controlling and power devices governed and energized by individual circuits, or rather, by individual branches of one main controlling circuit and i one main power circuit, the construction being such: that the devices of any unit may be brought into action without" afi'ecting the controlling, energizingor operating devices ofany other unit. A further difference 'resulting from the employment of electrically- 30, controlled or operated devices substantially throughout is that there is always the response to a controlling or operatingaction that should follow in a circuit having few and light mechanical. parts to move.

before referred to ,will be hereinafter described and claimed and are ilIustrated in E separate energizing and operating power de- 5 l 1 Other features of the invention not herein- 1 supplying 'means to put the operating depower device for the purpose of storing enis a vertical transverse section and elevation of the same,'the section being taken in line 7-7,Fig.6. L I

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings; In carrying my present invention into effect I may, as in my companion application aforesaid, make use of any well-known or suitable type of gearing capable of being shifted to different positions corresponding j:

to-the various positions or speeds in or for which such gearing may be set. The gearing shown is a well-known type and is suitable for the purpose. I

As the active or operating means for per 51 forming the principal gear-shifting functions I prefer to employ actuators in the form of springs energized by suitable electrical devices, such as solenoids, eachoperating power device or spring preferably being J normally in condition for performing its gear-shifting function. The preferred operating power device is jone in which the. power is not only normally ready for use, but is one in which the potential energy of the device while available for substantiallyv instantaneous release is normally under restraint. The energizing power deviceemployed in connection with this operating ergy in said operating device is preferably an electrical device or solenoid energized by current in a suitable power circuit, this electrical device or solenoid serving as a powervice or spring under compression, in which condition it will be held until its work is to be performed, when the spring, which constitutes here the power applying means, will be released and its potential energy will L05 vices and circuits governing different gearshifting movements, and illustrating one embodiment of my present-invention; Fig. 2 is asectional plan and diagrammatic view of said gear-shifting mechanism, the section being taken in line 2'2, Figfi l; Figf3 is a sectional plan of the lower portion or the 50 apparatus shown in Fig. 1,, illustrating mainly the shifter-rods and the means for section being taken 'in line 33, Fig. 1';

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the. major por- 5 tion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, and illustrates both manual and power means for energizing the operating power devices Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the same," the section'being taken in line-5--5-, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is. a vertical longitudinal sec- .tionand elevation of a modification of said gear shifting mechanism, illustrating manual means for mechanically restoring the shifter-rods to neutral position, the section become instantaneously kinetic and will shift a gear substantially instantaneously to a new position- In Fig. 1 I,have shown a well-known type of change-speed gearing in which the re- 11;; spective gears are indicated at 2, 3,4,- 6, 7, 8, 9 andlO. These gears'and their movements are under the control of suitable gear-shifting mechanism the principal mechanical elements of which, as illustrated herein, are a pair of gear-shifters or shifterrods, 11 and 12, carrying the usual shifterarms, 13 and 14:. Each of these gear-shifters or shifter-rods is movable to three po-. sitions, one of which is its neutral position in which the gears controlled by it are out of mesh, and the other two are active posit-ions corresponding to diiferent speeds or directions of speed, as the case may be. In

the present case, in the construction shown 65 being taken in line 6 6, Fig. 7,fand Fig. 7 i being effected by a single actuator as in my aforesaid companion application In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in thesefirst five views each of the movements of the gear-shifting mechanism to a working position is illustrated as derlved from a. diiferentenerglzing power device in the I form of a solenoid, the four solenoids shown being designated respectively by 15, 16, 17 and 18, and their cores or plungers by 19, 20, 21 and 22. The pullof these plungers when energized serves to put under compression springs, such as 23, 24, 25 and 26,

each of which is located between a collar,

27, 28, 29 or 30, at the outer endof its resp'ective plunger and the frame or case oh suit-able means may be employed for the purpose of holding each spring energized, that is, under compression. Here I have shown spring-held latches, such as 31, 32, 33 1 and '34, the nose of each of whichis adapt-' ed to engage in a corresponding notch in 'a' rod, 35, 36, .37 or 38, forming an extension of the corresponding plunger 19, 20, 21 or 22,-' but made of non-magnetic material Nhenany one of these plnngers is drawn in to the limit of its-in-stroke its latch will be pressed into the notch by a [suitable spring, such as 39, 4t), 41 or 42, and the plunger and its extension,.together with the spring, 23, 24, 25 or 26, as. the case may be, will be held under restraint until released and will maintain said spring in condition -for instantaneous release' of its stored energy'when its latch is Withdrawn from the aforesaid notch. When s0 withdrawn the energized operating power device or spring'will i11 'stantafieously niove the corresponding plungerand its extension inward, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which movement will serve through suitable power-transmitting connections to-shiftthe correspondingogear of the speed gearing to a new position to bring about a change in speed. Herethe movement of each solenoid-plunger is trans mitted'to a reciprocating member or rod suitably connected to other power. transmitting elements, the operation of which will be hereinafter described.

The solenoids 1518 are hereconnected in a' single powercircuit-in such a manner that. each of the solenoids may-be separatelv' energized momentarily, that is to say,

. just long enough to perform the operation of energizing the corresponding operating power device Pr spring. Immediately after a this thecircuit of said solenoid should be broken, and in this case it is intended to re main interrupted until the completion of L a a cycle of operatlons of the energizing and operating power devlces governed by it,

after which the circuit of said solenoid may be closed again. Each solenoid is hereemployed as the means for de'e'nergizing itself, it serving, as in my,aforesaid companion application, to operate a switch for, opening a gap in the circuit through such solenoid.

These gaps are shown as four in number, one for each of the solenoids 1-518, they being located herein at the respective pairs of contacts, -134.4-, 45-46, 47 l8, and 49 by bridging contacts, such as 51-5l, operated directly by'the extended ends ofthe plungers of said solenoids. Each bridging contact 515i .is illustrated'as carried by. a switch-rod. 55 58. though insulated therefrom as shown, each of said switch-rods or slides being mounted in guides in the cas ings of the respective solenoids and having near its outer end a. projection in the path of an actuator or projection on the extended end of the corresponding solenoid-plunger.

These projections from the switch-rods are designated respectively by 5962, and coact 50, which are adapt ed to be spanned with projections, 6366, on the extensions Qf the sclenoid-plungers; The parts are so combined that-at about the end of the-instroke of each plunger the projection thereonwill strike that. of the corresponding switch-rod and shift said rod outward in -Fig; 2, thereby opening up the power circuit and the gap controlled by the bridging contact, which gap is intended to be normally closed.

Owing to the fact thatI employ in the present case a plurality of solenoids and a plurality of parts operated or controlled thereby,finstead.of a single set of these devices, as shown in my aforesaid companion application, the electrical units inthe present case are preferably electrically connected in multiple, the solenoids 15 48 being connected respectively in parallel branches of a single main power circuit, whilelsuitable controlling devices for releasing the operating power devices energized by said solenoids will preferably be connected in parallel branches of a single main controlling circuit. The main power circuit of energy, 67, through a common conductor, 68, by way of four parallel branch conductors, 69, '70, 71 and '72 to the respective illustrated herein is from a suitable source pairs of contacts -l3 l4, 45-46, 4748 and 4950, whence four parallel branchconductors pass to corresponding ends of the] solenoids 15-18, the opposite ends of which are connected in turn by four parallel branch conductors, 7 3-7 6, to a common conductor, '77, leading from theother' side of source of energy 67. The power circuit also has in the main circuit thereof, as in my companion application, a circuit-controller, such as 78, operated by the pedal, 7 9, of the clutch-lever and connected by a' conductor, 80, to said other side of the source of energy, the common conductor 7 7 being connected to a con,-v tact, 81, governed by said circuit-controller. Thus, as in my companion application, here also there are two breaks in the power cir-.

cuit of each solenoid-'l8, one of which breaks is ata point governed by abridging contact, as before described, this break being controlled, as setforth, .by an automatic circuit-controlleror switch. So far as the intermittent energization and deenergization ofeach solenoid is concerned, the break at such bridging contact is suflicient for the proper operation of the) apparatus. As a matter of convenience, however, a second break is shown, which break may be employed in connection with motor vehicles or other apparatus when desired. -This second.

break is, as juststated,-'commonto all of the parallel branch circuits of the four sole- -noids 15- 18 and is preferably normallyclosed by a power device, suitable power devicefor the purpose is the'usual spring, 82, by means 1 of which the clutch-lever is held retracted.

' It will be clear from the foregoing that.

whether the second 'gapjust' described is used or not the circuit at that point will always normally be closed, so that current 'will flow momentarily through any one of the solenoids 1518'when the other break (before described) in the branch circuit of that solenoid is closed. In this specific -em-.

-'bodiment of the invention the. second gap is automatically'maintained closed by power and manual action is required to open it.

As before indicated, the release of the potential energy of each operating vpower device or spring 23-26 is governed in this case by a single. controlling electrical cir-- cuit. This controlling circuit, like the power, circuit, is intended to be-economical of current and only momentarily closed, but it is u like the power circuit'in that it is norma y open, ,there being here, as shown in Fig. 2, four parallel-branches of this controlling circuit, each branch controlling a difi'erent one of the solenoids *15.-18 and each of said branches being nor-.

mally. open. The current for thecontrollin'gicircuit may be derived from, the same source as the current for the power circuit, but the controlling circuit will preferably consist mainly of fine wire' conductors and Will utilize but little of the current of the source of energy in controlling the opera tion of thgear-shiftingmechanism. Each controlling circuit for governing-one of said; solenoids musthave at least one break (and need have but one for the purpose ofcontrolling the maintenance of the neces'-' sary sequence of operations of its"unit of of the to be closed only at the end of the in-stroke of the plunger of the corresponding solenoid and while said plunger and the operating device energized by the movement'thereof are held under restraint. In the specific apparatus illustrated there are four controlling branches of' this controlling circuit, one for each solenoid" 1518 and each of these branches is normally open, the nor= 'mally open break thereinbeing that just referred'to as the one necessary break in the controlling circuitof each solenoid: In Fig. 2' these four breaks are shown as be' tween pairs of contacts, 8384, 8586, I

8 7588 and 89-90. f In each of'these pairs of contacts the inner" and longer one is shown as in. position to belengaged by the end. of the extension of the corresponding solenoid-plunger and brought into engage ment with the outer and shorter contact of such pair substantially at themoment that said plunger reaches theendof'its in-stroke. In all other positions of each plunger the gap between the contacts of the pair 'corresponding thereto will be open. Each of these pairs of contacts is illustrated here as connected in,a circuitlwith the source of j energy 67 supplyingcurrent to the power circuit. The controlling circuit through each of these pairsof contacts is also illustrated as having an additional break or breaks which is or are provided for determining the times when the devices con-' trolled thereby shall go. through their. se-

'quence of operations, but which have no control over the time or sequence. of operations of any cycle after such cycle is be gun: Here there are two breaks in the controlling circuit through each of the pairs 'ofcontacts 8384, etc., inaddition to that at said contacts. Onebf these additional breaks is in the main line of the controlling circuit and is at the circuit-controller 78 governed by the foot-lever or clutch-lever, and is a break that is intended to manually closed by the depression of said clutchlever. --The contact with which said clutchlever cooperates to'control this second break e controlling circuit of each solenoid 111 1538 isindicated at 9'1. Said contact is shown as connected to a main lineconductor,- 92, branches from which lead-to the respective contacts 88,- 84, 90 and 86, as shown at 93,'94,*95' and '96. In part the controlling circuit follows the same, course as the power circuit, viz., through conduc-.

tor 80, source of energy 67, and conductor From said conductor 68, however, branches pass to the outer short contacts 83, 85, 87 and 89 of the pairs of contacts previously described. Each of these branches embodies as its principal controlling element means, such as a small electromagnet, 97, 98, 99 or 100, for releasing the corresponding latch, 31, 32,,33 or 34,

to set free the potential energy oftlfe operating power device or spring controlled thereby. Each parallel branch of the controlling circuit is shown as completed by fine wire conductors extending from the heavier'conductor 68 through one of the controlling electromagnets 97100 to the corresponding contacts 83, etc., said conductors being designated respectively by l'0l, 102, 108.. and 104. Each of these branch circuits is alsoshown as having therein a manual controller or push-button, such as 1( )5 108, which may he interlocking, by means of whicheach branch of the controlling-circuit may be closed independently of :so I

=. every other, On the closing of a branch cinf cuit by any one of these push-buttons the corresponding latch will be-released by the controlling electromagnet in thatlbranch in a manner which will be obvious. As soon as such latch is released the gap at the corresponding one of the four sets of contacts '838-i, etc, will be automatically opened and the corresponding solenoid-plunger will be quickly thrown to the end of its out-stroke by the operating power device or spring surrounding it.- The gap thus openedin the branch circuit ,will remain open until said plunger reaches the end of its in-stroke again, and hence the control ling branch circuit after being once closed and its controlling electromagnet once energized to release the" corresponding latch cannot be closed again until the solenoid corresponding thereto is again energized "by the power circuit and the operating power device or spring again energized by said solenoid.

The push-buttons l05108 which are preferably located on the steering-head of the vehicle, constitute, as will be obvious, a

- means for controlling, and manually, athird break in each controlling circuit that may be established through the connections shown in Fig. Thus, each such circuit that may be established has in it three breaks all of.

which are normally open and two of which are; controlled by power-operated devices, one in. the main line of the controlling circuit and the other in an individual parallel branch of the controlling. circuit, and automatically opened and closed by the action of a solenoid corresponding to that branch.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each of the power circuits before described that may be established through the main 7 line and the branch of such-power circuit is quite short and that the solenoid, the source of energy and the automatic-switch constituting the principal means for mak-j ing and breaking eachsuch circuit may be quite close together and that the drop in any over, as each branch is only momentarily closed, each being broken practically instantaneously atter-being made, the draft upon power circuit so closed will be slight. 'Morethe battery will be maintained for the minimum amount of time. In addition, during each brief period that a controlling circuit is established through one of the parallel branches described but little current is used in it owing to the employment ofa fine Wire conductor through the major portion of that circuit. I

The parts described for operating each bridging contact to open and close one of the gaps at 43ft etc., and for operating one of the long contacts 8st, etc., to close and open'automatically the respective gaps in the parallelbranches of the controlling cir cuit, constitute double-throw switches gov erned by the solenoids L518 andoperated in sucha manner that each switch will alternately and substantially reciprocally open and close two gaps one in the power- .circ-uit ranch and the other in the correspondin controlling-circuit branch, and one on one stroke and the other on the opposite l stroke of the corresponding soleno1d-plun-.

ger, from which it 'will be clear that there can be no interference with the p,redeter-- mined sequence ofoperations of the mech-n anism controlled and operated by any pan of corresponding branch circuits. On the in-stroke of a solenoid-plunger the corresponding-spring 'will be compressed and latched and the break in the corresponding power-circuit branch then opened and that K 0 n in the corresponding controlling-circuit branch then closed, andon the release of the corresponding latch and the outward movement of said plunger-the gap in said controlling branch will be opened, and at the end of the out-stroke the gap in the power branch will be closed; and this regardless of the manner in which the circuit-controller governed by the clutch-lever is operated with respect to the contacts 81 and 91 of the main line portions of the power and i rods .55, etc., and-adjacent portions of the mally to the .circuit closing position sin purpose. These springs are interposedbetween suitable stop-faces on the switchsolenoid casings and are of suficient strength to return .sa1d swltch rods nor-- which each pair of contacts 13- 14, etc.,- is

,closed by the corresponding bridging contact, and .to .do this in opposition to the action of a light detent for holding the switchrod in either .of its :two extreme positions,

suitable spring-pressed roller-detents being shown .at.113116, for this purpose, the switch-rods each havingtwo notchesf as illustrated in Fig. 2 in either of which the roller of the detent may drop. It will be obvious from Fig. 2 that nearthe end of the in stroke of each plunger the switch rod is moved mechanically by the projection from the exgtensionof the plunger and the coiled spring surrounding the switch-rod put under compression, while on the release .of the --corresponding "latch, the return of the plunger to the end of its out-stroke by the spring surrounding it and the withdrawal-lot said projection from engagement with the projection on the switch-rod the spring surrounding said switch-rod will become effective-ito restore said switch-rod to its morpower circuit.

mal position and to close automatically the gap in the corresponding branch of the as, for instance, in an open frame member,

[119, and eachis unconnected with the plungers by which it is actuated. The construction is such that each rod 117 and 118 is intended to be shifted to one side or the other of the normal posit-ion shown in Figs..

' and 121, connected with themembers 117 and I 1 and 2 by a hammer-like blow of said plunger, the direction to which it is shifted depending upon whether. it isistruckby the left-hand plunger or by the right-hand plunger. The movements'of the 'reciprocatmg "members 117 and 118 may in turn be transmitted to the gear-shifters or shifterrods 11land 12in any desired manner, as for example, by pivoted shifting-levers, 120

118, as 'by pin-and-slot' connections. At their lower ends the levers 120 and 121 are shown as connected directly to the outer ends of the gear-shifters 11 and 12. Thus through the action of the plungers 1? and 20 the reciprocating member 117 Wlll be driven inone direction .or. the other to the,

right or to the left of its normal position to shift to either one of .the speedscontrolled by it and in a similar manner the plungers 'changes controlled by such movements. When in the normal ipositionshown in Fig. 1 all- .of the connections from the shifting level-s12!) and 121 to .the gears will be in I the normal or neutral position. Here the tour active or Working posit-ions are under the control of the four Isolenoids 15-18.

The neutral position is, in this case, ,under the control of a pair of solenoids, 122 and 123, having plu-ngers, 12a and 125,-c0nnected respectively with the free ends of the gear- ,shifters .or shifter-rods 11 and 12. Each of these solenoids, as .will be seenby referring to Fig. 3, is operative independently of the other for moving its-shifiter-rod to ,the T". anal or neutral position. Thesolenoids 122 and 123 suitably energized are shown in these views as the operating power devices ifior re turning the ,parts to neutral position in order to illustrate how the well-known ty pe .of electrically-operated gear shifting device may be employed .sforthe neu a po i i n in conne t on wi h my new type o op rati g power device normally under restraint and operative when released for efiecting ,the working changes in the speed gearing. Of ieo u'se, electrically energized springs norreally held under compression may be employed instead of the solenoids 122 and 123 :exactly as in connection with the gear for the \dilierent working positions and speeds It w l be unde tood o our that whichever type of operating power .derice is employed it W111 be goyerned by an electric circuit having a suitable circuit- .controller therein. p

In addition to the power .deylces before described tor supplying-energy for effecting the desired gear-shifting movements, ,or'as an auxiliary thereto, I may {employ manual .means for accompl shing the same results, that is to say, I may employ manual means for putting under compression the various operating springs 23-26 for shifting the gears to difieren t working positions, and

also employ .the same manual ,means for directly acting upon the gear-shifters or vshifter-rods 11 and 12 to move .them to .the

neutral position when desired. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a hand-lever 126 for this purpose. It is shown as secured .to

the end of a rock-shaft, 127, mounted in hearings .in the lower portion of the frame member 119, which shaft also passes through the hub portions of the power-operated shifting levers 120 and 121. The rock shaft 127 is intended to slide back and forth in its bearingsand is illustrated ashaving secured thereto a pair of oppositely-facing clutch members, 128,.and 129, adapted to engage complementary clutch= members 130 and 131, on the power operated shiftinglevers l20 and 121. By shiftingthe manual lever 126 sidewise the rock-shaft 127 may be correspondingly moved endwise either to the neutral position shown in Fig. or to a plurality of other positions corresponding to the working positions of,the levers 120 and 121. a

The selection of the desired gear-shifting operation, whether to a working position or to neutral position, will of course be deter-v mined by the operation of a push-button, such as 105. etc., or other suitable device. In the specific construction shown in Fig. 2 of course tliecircuit for releasing any of the operating springs .will not actually be closed untilthe pedal 79 is depressed, but,

as before shown, it is not necessary to employ an additional controlling break in the combined controlling and power circuit, or

to govern such a break'b'y'theclutch-lever. Of course the neutralizing-solenoids 122 and 123 may also be connected in circuit with the single source of energy 67 In case the source of energyor battery should fail the a necessary gear-shifting operations both to neutral and working positions will of course be performed, in the :qaparatusillustrated, by manipulation of the lever 126 both lengthwise of its axis and about that axis.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modification of the invention in which the parts are in many respects the same as, or similar to, those shown in the-other views, the energizing solenoids, the operating power devices or springs, the plungers, the reciprocatory member operated thereby, the poweroperated shiftingdevers, the gear-shifters or shifter rods, and the clutch-lever being the same as in the other views and designated by the same reference characters.

however,- of employing in'this modification have illustrated mechanical devices for this separate solenoids, such as 122 and 123, for returning the parts to neutral position I purpose, which devices are operated by the clutch-lever 78. These connections here embody an angle-lever, 132, operated from Instead,

position and'with it the gears of the changei speed mechanism. The manner-in which this is accomplished is well understood and will be obvious from the drawings.

That I claim is: i

1. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising in combination with shiftable gears, a plurality of separately-operative normally energized gear-shifting power devices, and means for releasing saidpower devices separately.

2. Gear -shiftingmechanism, comprising,

in; combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of sepa rately-operative normally energized power devices each operative for moving agear from oneposition to another, and separate means for normally holding said respective power devices under restraint.

, 3. Gear-shiftingmechanism, comprisin incombination' with gearing embodying a; pluralityof gears each shiftable from one working position to another through neu,-. tral position,-a plurality of separately-op erative normally energized power devices,

each operative for moving a gear from one working position through neutral position to another working position, and separate means for normally holding said respective power devices under restraint.

4; Gearshifting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of separately-operative normally energized power devices each operative for moving a gear from one position to another, separate means for normally holding said respective power devices under restraint, andmeans for releasing said power devices separately.

5. Gear -s hiftingmechanism, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated speedmhanging gears, a plurality of separately-operative springs each operative for moving a gear from one position to-another, and separate means for normally holding said respective springs un der restraint.

. 6. Gear-shifting mechanism. comprising. in combination with gearing embodying a plurality of gears each shiftable from, one working position to another through neutral position, a plurality of separately-operative springs each operative for moving a gear from one workingposition through neutral position to another working position, and separate means for normally holding said respective springs'under restraint.

7. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of separately-operative normally -.energized power devices each operative for moving a gear from one position to another, separatev means for normally holding said respective power devices under restraint, and electrical controlling means for releasing said power devices separately.

8. Gear shiftin mechanism, comprising, incombination with a set of lnterrelated speed-"changing gears, aplurality of separately-operative sprlngs each operative for a moving a gear from one position to another,

separate means for normally holding said respectivesprings under restraint, and electrical controlling means-tor releasing saidsprings separately. r

9. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising,

in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of operrately-operatii' e spring each operative for ating power devices separately operative for moving-corresponding gears respectively each from one position to another, and separate means for energizing said operating 1 power devices. I

. plurality of gears each shiftable from one working position to another through neu-.

10. Gear shifting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of operating power devices separately operative for moving corresponding gears respectively leach from one position to another, and a plurality of energlzlng power devices sep a-' 'rately operative for energizing said respec-' the operating power devices.

11. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, in combinationw th gearing embodying a plurality of gears. each shiftable from one working position to another throughneutral position, aplurality of operating power devices separately operative' for moving corresponding gears respectively each from one working position through neutral'position to another working position, and a plu-' ralit-y of energizing power devices separately operative for energizing said respective oparating power devices. s

12. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, incombinaticn with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of operating power devices separately operative for moving corresponding gears respectivelyeach from one position to another, a plurality of energizing power devices separately operative for energizing said respective operating power devices,-means for maintaining each operating power device in, its energized condition, and means for releasing separately said energized operating power de-- vices. 4 13. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprisin in combination with gearing embodying a .tral position, a plurality of operatingpower devices of one character separately operative for moving corresponding gears respectively each from one working position to another, and separate energizing power devices of another character for energizing said respective operating power devices,

14. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, in'combination with a set "of interrelated for shifting each individual gear.

after the startingof the same.

speed-changing gea-rs, a plurality of operating power devices separately operativefor moving corresponding gears respectively each from one position to.- another, and separate electrical power devices for energizing said respective operating power devices separately.

15. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a, set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of operating power devices separately operative for' moving corresponding gears respectively each from one'position to another, and sepav ratcly operative solenoids for-energizing said respective operating power devices separately.

16. Gearshifting mechanism, comprising,

in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of springs separately operatlve for moving correspondlng gears respectively each from one position. to another, and separately-operative electrical power devices for storing energy in said springs. e

'17. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated speed changinggearea plurality of pairs of ,power devices the first device of each pair being operative for shifting a gear and the second de ice of each pairbeing operative for energizlng the first, and separate control ling means for said respective energizing power devices.

18. Gear-shiftin mechanism, comprising,

in combination wlth a setof interrelated speed changing gears, a plurality of pairs'of power devices the first device of each pair being operative-for shifting a gear and the second device of each pair being operative forenergizing the first, and separate poweroperated controllers for governing the action ofsaidfrespective energizing power devices 19. Gear-shifting mechan sm, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated 'speed changing gears, a plurality .of pairs of for starting the action of said power-supply ing means for each gear, and separately-0p 'erative devices ,f'o'rautomatically stopping.

each such action at a predetermined time 22. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising,

a plurality of separately-operative electricaldevices for supplying power for bringing about the shifting of individual gears, means for separately energizing said electrical devices, and separately-operative automatic devices for denergizing said electrical devicesvices, and separately-operative automatic devices each controlled by the action of a different one of said electrical devices for deenergizing that device at a predetermined moment after the beginning of its energization.

124. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, an electric circuit having a plurality of parallel branches eachbranch of which contains a device for supplying power for bringing about the shifting of one of a pluralityof gears and also contains an automatic device for determining the period of said supply, and a manual circuit-controller governing all of said branches.

25. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising,

an electric circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each branch of which contains a solenoid for supplying power for bringing about the shifting of one of a plurality of gears, and a plurality of automatic devices each controlled by a different one of said branch-circuits and each operative for making its respective solenoid circuit on one stroke of the solenoid-plunger and for breaking said circuit on the other stroke of said.

plunger.

26. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of separately-operative pairs of power devices the first device of each pair. being operative at one time for shifting a gear and the second device of each pair. being operative at a diiferent time for energizing the first.

27.. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprisin in combination with a set ofinterrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of separately operative pairs of power devices the first device of each pair beingoperative at one time for shifting a gear and the second device of each pair being operative at'a difi'erent time and from a source of power of a difierent character for energizing the first.

28. Gear-shiftin mechanism, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of separately-operative pairs of power devices the first device of each pair being operative at one time for shifting a gear and the second device of each pair being operative .at a

different time and for a relatively short period for energizing the first,

29. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a 'set .of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of operating power devices separately operative for moving individual gears each from one position to another, and electrical means for effecting separately a substantially instantaneous energization of each of said operating power devices. v

30. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of operating power devices separately operative for moving 1ndividual gears each from one position to another, electrical means for efiecting separately 'a substantially instantaneous energization of each of said operating,

power devices, and a plurality of separategear and the second device of each pair being an electrical device operative at a diiferent time for energizing the first, all of said electrical devices being connected in parallel branches of a common energizing circuit.

32. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising,

in combination with a set of interrelated speed-changing gears, a plurality of separately-operative pairs of power devices the first device of each pair. being operative at one time for shifting a gear and the second device of each pair being 'a solenoid 0perative at a different time for energizing the first, and separately-operative devices for substantially instantaneously making and breaking the circuits of said. respective solenoids.

Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, a plurality of operating power devices sepa rately operative for moving individual gears each from one position to another, and means for simultaneously energizingall of said operating power devices.

34. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, a plurality ofoperating power devices separately operative fO1- II10VlDg individual gears each from one position to another, and power-operated means for bringing about the simultaneous energization of all of said operating power devices.

35. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, a plurality of operating power devices separately operative for moving individual gears each from one position to another, and elec-' -rately operative for moving individual gears I each from one position to another means forsimultaneously energizing all of said operating power devices, and controlling means for releasing said'power devices s'eparately. Q

37. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, a plurality, of'operating power devices separately operative for moving individual gears each fromonefposition to another,

' power-operated means for bringing about the simultaneous energization of all of said operating ipowerdevices, and manual controlling means for bringing about the release of said power devices separately.

38JGear-shifting mechanism, comprising,

. a pluralityfof operating power devices sepa-.

rately-operativc for moving individual gears 'each' from .one position to another, means for simultaneously energizin allof said operating power devices, an separate devices for latching each of said energized operating power devices.

. i139. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising,

a plurality of operating power devices separately operative. for moving each from ,one

position to another, means for silnultaneouslyenergizing /all of said operating power devices, separate devices .for latching each and means orreleasing sai gear-shifting means having a plurality of gear-shifting movements, a single power circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each including electrical means for supplying energy for bringing about one of said movements, and a controlling circuit for releasing the energy of said electrical means. a

42. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising gear-shifting means having a plurality ofgear-shifting movements, a single power circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each including electrical means for supplying energy for bringing about one of said movements, and asin'gle controlling circuit having -a plurality. of parallel branches each including electrical means for releasing the energy stored by a corresponding branch'of the power circuit.

43. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a power circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each containing an automatic circuit-controller for breakingsaid branch circuit at the end of a predetermined latching de .and the period. and also including electrical means for. supplying energy foribringing about the shifting of a gear from one position to another, and a controlling circuit for releasing said energy."

44;. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a power circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each containing an automatic circuit-controller for breaking said branch circuit at the end of a predetermined period and also including electrical means for supplying energy for. bringing about the shifting of a gear from one position to another, and a controlling circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each having an automatic circuit-controller governed by said electrical means. I

45. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a power circuit having a plurality ofparallel branches each containing an automatic circuit-controller for breaking said branch circuit at the end of a predetermined period and alsoincludingelectrical means for supplying energy for bringing about shifting of a gear from one position to another, and a controlling circuit having a plurality of parallel branches, each branch of the power circuit and each branch of the controlling circuit having an automatic circuit-controller one of which is open when that of the corresponding branch circuit is closed.-

46. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a' plurality of springs for shifting corre sponding gears, a power circuit having a plurality of .parallel, branches each including a solenoid for energizing a correspond-..

ing spring, and a controlling circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each including means for releasing a correspond" ing spring, each branch of the power circuit and each branch of thecontrolling circuit having an automatic circuit-controller controllers [of corresponding branchesrof such circuits being opened and closed substantially reciprocally.

47. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprisinga plurality of springs for shifting corresponding gears, a power circuit having a" plurality ofparallel'branches each including a solenoid for energizing a corres'p'ond ing spring, a controlling circuit having a plurality of parallel brancheseach including ,means for releasing a corresponding spring, and a plurality of double-throw switches operated respectively by said sole-' noid-plungers and'each operative for opening a break in its branch of the power circuit and closing one in the corresponding branch of the controlling circuit on one7l strokeof itsplunger and for closing said break in the power circuit and opening that in the controlling circuit on the other" stroke of said plunger.

. 48. Gear shifting mechanism, comprising a. plurality of springs for shifting corresponding gears, a power circuit having a. plurality of parallel branches each including a solenoid for energizing a corresponding spring, a controlling circuit having a plurality of parallel. branches each including means for releasing a corresponding spring, a plurality of double-throw switches operated respectively by said solenoid-plungers and each operative for opening a. break in its branch of the power circuit and closing one in the corresponding branch of the controlling circuit on one stroke of its plunger and for closing said break in the, power circuit and opening that in the controlling circuit on the other stroke of said plunger, and a circuit-controller governing anotherbreakin the main line of each of said circuits and operative for closing them alternatively.

49. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a plurality of springs for shifting corresponding gears, a power circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each including a solenoid for energizing a corresponding spring,

-. a controlling circuit having a plurality of parallel branches each including means for releasing a corresponding spring, a plurality of double-throw switches operated respecti l b id solenoid-plungcrs nd each P' erative for opening a break in its branch of the power circuit and closing one in the corresponding branchbf the controlling circuit on one stroke of its plunger and for closing said break in the power circuit and opening that in the controlling circuit on the other stroke of said plunger, and a circuit-controller operated by the clutch-lever and governing another break in the main line of each of said circuits and operative for closing them alternatively and having means for normally moving it into position for closing said break in the main line of the power circuit.

50. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a plurality of operating power devices separately operative for moving individual gears each from one position to another, and a plurality of sets of energizing, latching and releasing power devices one set for each operating power device, the energizing devices of all sets being simultaneously operative and the latching devices of all sets being also simultaneously operative and the releasing devices of the different sets being separately operative.

51. Gear-shitting mechanism, comprising gear-shifting means havin a plurality of gear-shifting movements, a p urality of operating power devices for effecting said movements respectively, and an electrical power circuithaving a plurality of parallel branches each including means for energizing the corresponding operating power device.

to force-the same to a newposition.

53. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a gear-shifting element, and a spring-operated actuator normally under restraint and normally out of contact -with said gearshifting element and adapted when released to force the same to a new position.

54. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a gear-shifting element, and a plurality of operating power devices each normally under restraint and normally out of contact with said gear-shifting element and operative separately when released for forcing said gear-shifting element to one position or another.

55. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a gear-shifting element, a plurality of spring-operated actuators each normally under restraint and normally out of contact with said gear-shifting element, and operative separately when released for striking said gear-shifting element a sharpblow and driving it to one position or another.

56. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising leased to force the same to a new position, a

power circuit embodying means for energizing said operating power device, and a controlling circuit for releasing said operating power device.

57. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising a gear-shifting element, a plurality of spring-operated actuators each normally out of contact with said gear-shifting element and each adapted when released to strike said element a sharp blow and drive it to one of a plurality of new positions, a power circuit embodying means for simultaneously energizing all of said springs, and a controlling circuit. embodying means for releas ing said springs separately.

58. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising,

in combination with a gear, a spring for moving said gear from OIIG'POSltlOIl to anmeans for holding said energized spring under restraint, an automatic circuit-controller governing the circuit of said solenoid and movable to one circuit-controlling position by said solenoid. and a separate spring for moving said circuit-controller to its other circuit-controlling position.

59. Gear-sh'fting mechanism, comprising, in combination with a gear, a spring for moving said gear from one position to another. a solenoid for energizing said spring and having a plunger the out-stroke of which is derived from the power of said other, a solenoid for, energizingsaid spring, I

spring, meansfor holding said energized 'sprlng under restraint, an automatic cir cuit-controller governing the circnit of said solenoid and operative for opening a break in the solenoid circuit on the energization of said solenoid, and a separate spring for operating said circuit-controller to close said break in the solenoid circuit on the deenerg'ization of said solenoid;

60. Gear-shifting mechanism, comprising, a relatively short power circuit of low resistance having a' plurality 'of parallel branches each containing an automatic cirwit-controller governing said branch and also contaimn electrical means for storing energy for shi ing a gear from one position 

